Excellence Awards 2018

A group of 22 remarkable young Kiwis, mentors, volunteers and leaders have been celebrated for their resilience, self-belief and contribution to society at the annual Graeme Dingle Foundation’s 2018 Excellence Awards, held in Auckland last night.

It was an opportunity to celebrate more than 27,000 students, their mentors, leaders and volunteers across the country who have been involved in the Foundation’s various youth development programmes including Kiwi Can, Stars, Career Navigator, Project K and MYND over the previous 12 months. 

The evening celebrated the incredible achievements of these amazing young people, many who have bounced back from hardship and conquered immense challenges to chart a positive course through life.

The Foundation’s namesake, mountaineer and outdoor education pioneer, co-founder Sir Graeme Dingle, says the Awards perfectly showcase what the Foundation lives and breathes – transforming young lives forever.

“The ethos of our Foundation is that we want all young New Zealanders to have a life full of possibilities so they can achieve their dreams and make the most of their unique talents. We want to help them build foundations for success.

“The Awards are an amazing opportunity to celebrate this country’s future – our children and our young people. It provides a valuable platform for them to recognise their own strengths and muster, from within, the conviction to overcome challenges, both big and small. It is also a reminder of the incredible work that our mentors and volunteers deliver, day in and day out, for children and young people throughout the country.

“Each year, these kids blow me away with their courage, determination and resilience. Above all else, it gives me a tremendous sense of joy to be able to recognise and acknowledge each and every one of our winners, who we are all really proud of,” concludes Sir Graeme.

For the 250 who attended, the evening was an opportunity to hear the personal stories of a number of graduates who had taken part in the Foundation’s transformational journey, and the positive impact It has on their lives.

The 2018 Sir Edmund Hillary Youth Achievement Award went to 21-year old Acer Ah Chee-Wilson from Auckland, a former Waitakere College student and graduate of the Project K programme who completely defied the odds and turned his life around.

Acer says Project K helped him to build self-confidence and become the person he wanted to be, not the person he was destined to be.

“My brothers and I would steal radios and sell them, steal cars and crash them, break windows of homes and cars. I was 14 and I was naughty, hated school and wanted to drop out early. I was shy and anti-social, I only wanted to keep to myself. Then I was introduced to Project K.

“My mentor Tony saw me once a week in and out of school. He always made sure I was on track with my school work and kept me out of trouble. Tony believed in me like no one else ever did and because of him, I stayed in school, went to University and now have a full-time job as an arborist. One day I plan to be a mentor.

“The person I used to be is in the past, the mischief, the bad man, is no longer. I’ve looked further into the future, to where I want to be and to who I’m going to be,” concludes Acer.

The annual Excellence Awards began life as the Project K Outstanding Student Award. They were first hosted by Governor General, Dame Sylvia Cartwright, almost 20 years ago. The Awards provide an opportunity to honour and celebrate outstanding young New Zealanders across all of the Foundations programmes throughout New Zealand.